OSIRIS-Apophis Explorer

OSIRIS-APEX

    The OSIRIS-APEX mission will reprise the discoveries of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft at a second asteroid, Apophis. An hour after Apophis’s dramatic close approach to Earth on April 13, 2029, The OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will use Earth’s gravity to put itself on a course to rendezvous with the asteroid to begin an 18-month campaign of investigation and discovery. Having already challenged our understanding of “carbonaceous” (C-complex) asteroids during its exploration of Bennu, the spacecraft instrument suite will provide first-of-its-kind high-resolution data of a “stony” (S-complex) asteroid—dramatically advancing our knowledge of this asteroid class and its connection to the meteorite collection. After 15 months orbiting Apophis, APEX will use its thrusters to dig into the surface. This will allow us to observe subsurface material, which will provide otherwise inaccessible insight into space weathering and the surface strength of stony asteroids.

    Although scientific discovery is APEX’s prime motivation, Apophis’ bulk structure and surface strength have critical implications for planetary defense. Shortly after its discovery in 2004, there was concern that Apophis could hit Earth in the 2029 encounter. Further observations ruled out that possibility, and we now know that it does not present any danger for at least 100 years. Nevertheless, as an S-complex object, Apophis represents the most common class of potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) and knowledge of its properties can inform mitigation strategies. Monitoring Apophis during and after Earth approach provides the first opportunity to witness any change in the surfaces and orbits of an asteroid that could influence its likelihood of striking Earth.

    OSIRIS-APEX Faculty

    Dani Mendoza DellaGiustina

    Assistant Professor, Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX

    Earth, Photogrammetry, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Geophysics, Planetary Surfaces, Small Bodies

    Dante Lauretta

    Director, Arizona Astrobiology Center, Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-REx, Regents Professor

    Astrobiology, Cosmochemistry, Small Bodies

    Michael Nolan

    Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX, Research Professor

    Small Bodies

    Tyler Robinson

    Associate Professor

    Exoplanets

    Peter Smith

    Professor Emeritus

    Astrobiology

    OSIRIS-APEX Researchers

    Dathon Golish

    Mission Instrument and Observation Scientist

    Photogrammetry

    Bashar Rizk

    Research Scientist/Senior Staff Scientist, OSIRIS-REx/OCAMS

    Asteroid Surveys, Planetary Atmospheres

    Andrew Ryan

    Researcher/Scientist, OSIRIS-REx

    Planetary Surfaces

    Sarah Sutton

    Photogrammetry Program Lead, HiRISE, Researcher/Scientist

    Earth, Lunar Studies, Photogrammetry, Planetary Analogs, Planetary Surfaces, Small Bodies

    OSIRIS-APEX Support Staff

    Kris Becker

    Senior Data Analyst, OSIRIS-REx

    Photogrammetry

    Carina Bennett

    Project Manager and Software Engineer, SAMIS

    Denise Blum

    Business Manager, OSIRIS-REx

    Tony Ferro

    System Administrator, OSIRIS-REx/SPOC

    Michael Fitzgibbon

    Software Engineer, Lead Calibration & Validation, OSIRIS-REx

    Rose Garcia

    R&D Engineer Scientist, OSIRIS-REx

    Damian Hammond

    Software Engineer, OSIRIS-REx Telemetry Processing

    Karl Harshman

    Manager, OSIRIS-REx/SPOC

    Zachary Komanapalli

    Research Technician, OSIRIS-APEX

    Megan Montano

    Research Technician, OSIRIS-APEX

    Anjani Polit

    Deputy Principal Investigator, OSIRIS-APEX

    Heather Roper

    Media Specialist, Senior

    Mathilde Westermann

    Lead GIS Development Engineer, OSIRIS-REx

    Catherine Wolner

    Editor, OSIRIS-REx